Jalees Ahmad, Al Hakam
The door on my primary school library, back in the late 1990s, displayed: “To read, or not to read.” At the time, I saw it simply as a playful twist on Shakespeare’s famous “To be, or not to be.” However, it may now carry a whole new meaning. Allow me to explain.
John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is counted among the literary classics of the 19th century that has captivated readers for generations. Published in 1937, the novella, set during the Great Depression, discusses a variety of themes – hardships, social strife, poverty, loneliness, and deferred dreams. However, the book’s underlying theme (which can vary depending on the reader’s stage in life at the time of reading) ultimately revolves around friendship and a shared dream – forces that provide hope and meaning to one’s existence.
The BBC recently published a news article, “Classic novel off GCSE list amid racial slurs fear”. It talked about the decision to remove Of Mice and Men from the GCSE curriculum in Wales “from next September amid concerns about racism and the use of racial slurs.” (“Classic novel off GCSE list amid racial slurs fear”, bbc.co.uk, 22 December 2024) The decision follows concerns that the discussions around these topics in class were emotionally distressing. The article states: “Marley, 16, listened to the audio book with the rest of the class when he studied Of Mice and Men. When it came to the racial slurs, people ‘laughed and giggled and stared at me and it made me feel really uncomfortable’.” (Ibid.)
Not the first time being banned
This won’t be the first time that an attempt has been made to ban the book. According to the American Library Association, Of Mice and Men is numbered 28 in the top 100 “most frequently challenged books: 2010-2019.”
“The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has been documenting attempts to ban books in libraries and schools since 1990. OIF compiled this list of the most banned and challenged books from 2010-2019 by reviewing both the public and confidential censorship reports it received.” (“Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 2010-2019”, ala.org)
Even in the past, as mentioned briefly above, Of Mice and Men has faced censorship across various schools and communities due to its themes. Such objections have led to the book being removed, challenged, or restricted in locations such as Ireland, the United States, and other regions over several decades. (“Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century”, www.ala.org)
Weighing Of Mice and Men’s value
It must be asked, can literature such as Of Mice and Men serve as a tool for meaningful education and difficult histories? Or does it risk hurting students who confront offensive language that is used in the book?
The fact of the matter is that the book, as mentioned above, is set during the Great Depression, a time of widespread economic hardship and social strife in the United States. If taught correctly and with purpose, the book should leave the students with the thought of what life and times were like back then and how much we have propelled forward as a society, along with the literacy skills it imparts to the reader. Many lessons can be learned and derived from the book, which is what school is all about.
Most literature has the potential to be a powerful means of reflection and moral growth. Take One Thousand and One Nights for example – a book so rich in literature and deeply rooted in Arabian history that it is studied and read even today. Some of the content in the book may not be appealing to all, as it explores themes such as love, betrayal, justice, fate, and, at times, explicit depictions of desire and infidelity. This being said, however, most who have read it will agree that the focus of the book is far more than just that. For example, the book leaves the reader with a powerful art of storytelling; themes of justice and morality are explored, cultural values and diversity, and much more.
And so, stories, both ancient and modern, can teach us about the many things from the human condition, the consequences of injustice, and the need for compassion – things that matter in our everyday lives.
What’s next?
In the case of Of Mice and Men, I argue not if the book should “no longer be studied at GCSE in Wales from next September” and whether it is a decision in the right or wrong direction. However, seeing that the novel invites readers to grapple with questions about inequality, the “fragility” of dreams, or oppression that denies human beings their full dignity, one can clearly see that there is much to learn from it and simply banning it is a matter of an attempt in wanting to sweep complex issues under the rug, avoiding the difficult yet necessary conversations that shape our understanding of history and society.
Yet, we cannot ignore, as the BBC article states, the experience of encountering racial slurs, which can be profoundly alienating. The Holy Quran teaches to honour human dignity and that one should not insult one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. (Surah al-Hujurat, Ch.49: V12).
However, the pertinent question is: should we shy away from all content, literature, books, articles, and texts that challenge us?
It can be argued that shielding students from difficult material may limit our understanding of the challenges faced in history. Let’s be honest, without confronting past injustices, we cannot build a just future. In the words of Confucius, “To define the future, one must study the past.”
If we begin to censor due to challenging topics discussed within books, would we not be barring literary genius of the past from the young minds of today? And, if so, it’s only a matter of time until William Shakespeare also appears under the microscope.